Could It Be Magic? by Glenda Young

Ian’s job brought happiness to others, and it made him who he was . . .

WHEN Ian lifted his black top hat, the audience roared with delight. Underneath the hat was Ian’s pet rabbit, Barney, sitting quietly and very still on top of Ian’s head.

The children loved the spectacle of it all, but even their loud clapping and cheering for the finale of Ian’s magic act couldn’t faze Barney the rabbit.

He just sat quietly on top of Ian’s head as the children went wild with delight and the parents in the room clapped long and loud in appreciation of the trick.

“That’s the best magic act I’ve ever seen!” Joe exclaimed.

Ian reached up and gathered Barney in both hands before making a final bow to the crowd. The children started to grab their party bags, putting their coats on and getting ready to leave.

As the room emptied, Ian began to pack his trunk and boxes with the hats, balloons, card tricks and silk scarves that made up his act.

He had a special carrier for Barney and the rabbit went straight into it without any fuss, heading straight for his water and food.

“That really was a fantastic show,” Brian said to Ian. “Joe’s really enjoyed himself. He’s saying he wants to be a magician when he grows up.”

Ian smiled and nodded. “As long as the children enjoy themselves, I know I’ve done a good job,” he replied. “It beats working nine to five in an office!”

“Did Rosie pay you everything in advance?” Brian asked. “Or do we owe you anything?”

“It’s all been taken care of,” Ian assured him. “Your wife paid when she placed the order a few weeks ago.”

“Well, I’ll be sure to recommend you,” Brian promised.

“Here, let me give you one of my cards.”

Brian stood stock still as Ian pulled out a business card from behind his left ear.

“How on earth did you do that?” he cried.

“Ah, now that would be telling!” Ian laughed. Brian read the card. “You do corporate events as well as children’s parties? That’s good to know.”

“I can do everything from a one-hour show like Joe’s birthday party today through to three hours with a mini disco, games and balloon modelling. And all of my shows can be tailored to suit whatever requirements my customer has.

“I do weddings, parties, christenings, birthdays – you name it and I’ll turn up and do magic tricks! I can do close-up work at tables, too, or cabaret shows and stage performances. I’m very reasonably priced.”

“Do you always bring your rabbit?” Ian heard a little voice ask.

He looked down and there was Joe, kneeling on the floor and peering through the bars of Barney’s carrier.

“Yes, Joe.” Ian smiled. “Wherever I go, my furry little friend goes, too. We’re a double act, you know.”

He smiled at Joe as he stood and moved beside his dad. Brian ruffled Joe’s hair.

“Have you had a good birthday so far, Joe?” he asked his son.

“It’s been great, Dad. Thank you, Magic Ian.”

“It’s my pleasure, Joe,” Ian replied. “But I think I forgot to give you a birthday present.”

“You did?” Joe asked, his eyes wide.

Joe watched as Ian reached up under his left sleeve with his right hand. When his hand reappeared it brought with it a fluffy toy rabbit.

“How did he do that, Daddy? How did he do it?” Joe cried.

Brian shook his head in disbelief.

“Son, I have no idea. But that’s why he’s a magician and I’m not.”

“How did you do that?” Brian whispered to Ian.

Ian tapped the side of his nose.

“Magic Circle rules,” he said. “I couldn’t possibly break their code.”

“Here, let me show you out,” Brian said. “I’ll help you carry your boxes to your van.”

“Oh, it’s not a van, it’s a magic-mobile,” Ian replied, glancing at Joe.

Brian corrected himself. “Yes, of course. Well, er, let me help you put these boxes into the magicmobile.”

Brian stood with Joe at the front door of the house, waving goodbye. Ian jumped into the passenger seat of the van which was now full of boxes of the tools and tricks of his trade.

As the van drove away from the house, Joe looked up at his dad. “Dad?”

“Yes, son?”

“That was the best birthday ever.”

Back home, Ian unloaded the van. He took Barney first and put the rabbit in his pen in the back garden for some fresh air and a run on the lawn.

After Barney was safe and secure in the garden, Ian then brought the boxes of his tricks into the house one by one.

Since Linda had moved out, Ian lived alone, so there was no-one in the house to nag him about leaving the boxes in the hallway.

There was no-one to complain that the boxes were in their way or that he should get a proper job.

And there was no-one to tell Ian that she couldn’t see her future with a man who earned his living pulling rabbits out of hats and making giraffes from balloons.

Ian had begged Linda not to leave, but her mind was made up. She’d told him she’d had enough of him and, by heavens, she’d yelled at the time, she had certainly had enough of his rabbit.

When Ian was working, he was happy. Ian’s work made people smile; he worked his magic to make people laugh. But then he’d come home alone to an empty house.

Well, almost empty. There was Barney to look after, of course.

That evening after Joe’s birthday party, Ian was catching up on his paperwork. He’d never realised there would be so much admin involved in being self-employed.

As he was checking his diary to find out when his next booking was, his phone rang.

“Hello, Magic Ian? It’s Brian here. We met this afternoon at my son Joe’s birthday party. I’d like to make another booking, please.

“It’s a corporate event this time – some awards do at work on the fifteenth, if you’re free for an hour or so. The mayor’s coming, too. Card tricks at tables and a bit of razzmatazz on the stage. And bring Barney the rabbit, of course.”

“No problem,” Ian replied, scribbling the details in his diary. “It’ll be a pleasure. I’ll see you then.”

The awards dinner show was declared a success. Ian wowed the guests at the tables with his close-up magic tricks.

No matter how closely or carefully the guests watched Ian’s hands, they couldn’t figure out how his tricks were performed. He made cards and coins disappear right in front of their eyes.

The cries of surprise when Ian took a blue silk handkerchief from the mayor and made it reappear inside the lady mayor’s handbag almost brought the house down.

But it was his final trick, when he revealed Barney sitting on his head under the black top hat, that had the crowd whooping and shouting for more.

Brian insisted that Ian pull up an empty seat at one of the tables and have a cocktail with the guests.

After settling Barney into his carrier in the van and ensuring there was water and food for his pet, Ian found a seat by the bar.

A waitress dressed in black with a starched white apron appeared at his left shoulder.

“Would you like a drink, sir?” she asked.

Ian looked up into the most beautiful pair of eyes he’d ever seen. In return the waitress gave him a rather wistful smile.

“I enjoyed your act very much,” she said quietly. “I used to do a bit of magic myself, when I was much younger, of course, and just for my family.

“And I love rabbits. I always had them as pets at home when I was growing up. I haven’t owned one for some time now.” She shrugged. “I guess it’s something you just grow out of.”

Ian nodded. “Sorry,” she said. “I talk far too much. Would you like a drink?”

“Would you sit with me and have a drink, too?” Ian asked.

“Oh, no, I can’t while I’m working. But my shift finishes at ten o’clock. If you’re still here I could come and have a drink and chat.

“And you could tell me how you did the trick with the blue handkerchief. The bar staff have been puzzling over it all night.” Ian smiled.

“I couldn’t possibly tell. Magic Circle rules and all that. What’s your name, by the way?”

She smiled broadly. “Julieta,” she said.

It was some months later, and after many dates with Julieta, that Ian felt he could finally ask her the one question that mattered.

They were sitting in his back garden on a warm summer’s day. Julieta was stroking Barney, who sat contentedly on her knee.

“How do you feel about boxes in hallways, Julieta?” She laughed. “What sort of question is that?”

“My magic show is my life, Julieta,” he tried to explain. “It doesn’t feel safe enough to keep the boxes of tricks in the van overnight. They must come indoors.”

She smiled again. “It’s not a van – it’s a magic-mobile.”

Ian glanced shyly at her. “It’s a proper job, you know, being a magician. It’s what I am and will

Ian looked up into the most beautiful eyes he’d ever seen

always be.”

“I know,” she replied. “I see how hard you work and you make so many people happy. It makes me happy to know that your life involves pulling rabbits out of hats, because it all ends in laughter and smiles.”

“And those giraffes I make from balloons – you like those, too?”

“Not so much.” She laughed. “But the children love them, I can tell. I watch their eyes light up when they’re watching your show.”

Ian got down on one knee in front of her. She still had Barney on her lap, happily chewing on an apple.

“Julieta . . .” he began. “Would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?”

Julieta almost leapt to her feet in shock and delight. But at the last minute, realising she still had Barney on her knee, she sank slowly back to the chair, one hand on the rabbit and one arm around Ian’s neck.

“Oh, I’d love to!” she cried, kissing Ian’s face and his neck and hugging him with her free hand.

“Then all we need now is an engagement ring,” he said.

And when he made a small velvet box appear from behind Julieta’s right ear, she hugged him tighter still. n